Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/173

 It happen’d this Ship was taken by Englih Pyrates, and Mary Read was the only Englih Peron on Board, they kept her amongt them, and having plundered the Ship, let it go again; after following this Trade for ome Time, the King’s Proclamation came out, and was publih’d in all Parts of the Wet-Indies, for pardoning uch Pyrates, who hould voluntarily urrender themelves by a certain Day therein mentioned. The Crew of Mary Read took the Benefit of this Proclamation, and having urrender’d, liv’d quietly on Shore; but Money beginning to grow hort, and hearing that Captain Woods Rogers, Governor of the Iland of Providence, was fitting out ome Privateers to cruie againt the Spaniards, he with everal others embark’d for that Iland, in order to go upon the privateering Account, being reolved to make her Fortune one way or other.

Thee Privateers were no ooner ail’d out, but the Crews of ome of them, who had been pardoned, roe againt their Commanders, and turned themelves to their old Trade: In this Number was Mary Read. It is true, he often declared, that the Life of a Pyrate was what he always abhor’d, and went into it only upon Compulion, both this Time, and before, intending to quit it, whenever a fair Opportunity hould offer it elf; yet ome of the Evidence againt her, upon her Tryal, who were forced Men, and had ailed with her, depoed upon Oath, that in Times of Action, no Peron amongt them were more reolute, or ready to Board or undertake any Thing that was hazardous, as he and Anne Bonny; and particularly at the Time they were attack’d and taken, when they came to cloe Quarters, none kept the Deck except Mary Read and Anne Bonny, and one more; upon which, he, Mary Read, called to thoe under Deck, to come up and fight like Men, and finding Rh